Remove image background using Photoshop in 12 simple steps

Remove image background using Photoshop in 12 simple steps

The Photoshop icon
The Photoshop icon

Crop out your picture to a transparent background

  1. Click on photoshop icon ‘Ps’. Go to File – Open
Image 1: Photoshop - File - open
Image 1: Photoshop – File – open

2. Once you click open, a list of all your files from your computer will appear. Select the folder and type the file name in the box (or search for the saved photo/file) as seen in Image 2.

Image 2: This PC - Downloads - '<Filename>'
Image 2: This PC – Downloads – ‘<Filename>’

3. The main aim here is :

  • To remove the picture from the background by selection
  • To use the selected part (picture) and paste it onto a transparent (image) background

Note that after you select a file, it appears as shown in Image 3. Study the elements of Image 3 to understand what needs to be done in the following steps.

Image 3: Photo to be edited in Photoshop
Image 3: Photo to be edited in Photoshop

4. Find the ‘quick selection tool’ on the left menu bar. Hold onto the quick selection button and click the ‘quick selection option’ as shown in Image 4.

Image 4: Quick selection option to select your photo in Photoshop
Image 4: Quick selection option to select your photo in Photoshop

5. Select that part of the image that you want to transfer onto a transparent background by double-clicking on the image background. (Image 5) The quick selection option automatically detects the background differences from the image you are selecting.

Image 5: Selection of Picture in Photoshop
Image 5: Selection of Picture in Photoshop

6. If you’ve accidentally selected a wrong patch on your picture, you can go back on your selection by clicking the alt (on your keyboard) while simultaneously clicking on the area you want to deselect to make the necessary changes. If you’d prefer to deselect the entire selection, go to the ‘Select’ on the top menu bar and click on ‘deselect’ as shown in Image 6. You can then begin reselection again. Note: After you have finally selected your picture, make sure you select all sections of the image to clear off any patches, dots or blotches. These would otherwise cause empty patches to be visible on your image in the final file.

Image 6: Deselecting whole selection in Photoshop
Image 6: Deselecting whole selection in Photoshop

7. On the top menu click the ‘File’ then ‘new’ to open a new document to paste your inverse selection as shown in Image 7. Name the document as shown in Image 7.1. Adjust the width, height and resolution (default is 72) if required to increase/decrease the image background accordingly. Make sure the ‘Preset’ is set to ‘Clipboard’ and ‘Background contents’ set to ‘Transparent’. Click on ‘OK’ to open the new document. The new document with the given filename appears at the side of the current document as shown in Image 7.2. Note that the transparent background appears as a grey and white checkered box.

Image 7: File - New in Photoshop
Image 7: File – New in Photoshop
Image 7.1: Creating a new document with transparent background in Photoshop
Image 7.1: Creating a new document with transparent background in Photoshop
Image 7.2: New document with transparent background appears as named in Photoshop
Image 7.2: New document with transparent background appears as named in Photoshop

8. Now, go back to the main document with the selection. Click on the ‘Select’ tab at the menu at the top. Choose the ‘inverse’ option from the select tab as shown in Image 8.

Image 8:  Select and Inverse in Photoshop
Image 8: Select and Inverse in Photoshop

9. Next go to the ‘Edit’ tab and click ‘Copy’ as in Image 9.

Image 9: Edit - Copy for selected picture in Photoshop
Image 9: Edit – Copy for selected picture in Photoshop

10. Go to the new document panel, click ‘Edit’ and ‘Paste’ as in Image 10. The selected picture gets pasted onto the transparent background in the new document. (Image 10.1)

Image 10: Edit - Paste - onto new document in Photoshop
Image 10: Edit – Paste – onto new document in Photoshop
Image 10.1: Selected picture pasted on transparent background in Photoshop
Image 10.1: Selected picture pasted on transparent background in Photoshop

11. The last step is to save the file in ‘.png’ format. Go to the ‘File’ tab on the top menu, choose ‘Save As…’ Check the filename and choose to save as type ‘PNG’ (*.PNG; *.PNS*) as seen in Image 11.1. Proceed to SAVE and OK. (Image 11.2)

Image 11: Save As... in Photoshop
Image 11: Save As… in Photoshop
Image 11.1: Choose Save As type .png in Photoshop
Image 11.1: Choose Save As type .png in Photoshop
Image 11.2: Saving the file, final steps
Image 11.2: Saving the file, final steps

12. To retrieve your file find the folder where your file is saved. The final image appears against a transparent background. It blends with white screens/paper and is now ready to use!

And… here’s your cropped picture on a transparent background!
Image 12: The final file (.png)

There are many more options to edit images, make them brighter, sharper etc. However, this tutorial was to understand cropping out the required selection to place it onto a transparent background. And here’s how simple it was!

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